WO2023041363A1

WO2023041363A1 - Depth slide gauge and arrangement comprising a motor vehicle and a depth slide gauge

Info

Publication number: WO2023041363A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/074601
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edgar SIMONJAN
Original assignee: Wohlfarth, Klaus
Priority date: 2021-09-16
Filing date: 2022-09-05
Publication date: 2023-03-23
Also published as: DE202021105004U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a depth slide gauge for measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel, comprising a housing, a measuring rod which is linearly movably guided in the housing and is movable in and counter to a first direction relative to the housing, and a measuring stop connected to the housing, wherein the measuring stop is linearly movably guided on the housing and the measuring stop is arranged on the housing so as to be movable in and counter to a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

Description

Depth caliper and assembly comprising a motor vehicle and a depth caliper

The invention relates to a depth caliper for measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel with a housing, a linearly displaceably guided measuring rod in the housing and displaceable in and against a first direction relative to the housing, and a measuring stop connected to the housing .

The aim of the invention is to provide a depth gauge caliper that is improved in terms of its handling.

According to the invention, a depth caliper with the features of claim 1 and an arrangement with the features of claim 8 are provided for this purpose.

In a depth caliper for measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel with a housing, a linearly displaceable guided in the housing and movable in and counter to a first direction relative to the housing measuring rod and a measuring stop connected to the housing is provided that the measuring stop is guided in a linearly displaceable manner on the housing and that the measuring stop is arranged on the housing so that it can be displaced in and against a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction.

By linearly displaceably guiding the measuring stopper on the housing in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the measuring rod is movable, it is possible to adjust the measuring stopper when measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel that it rests exclusively at the highest point of a wheel cutout on a side surface of the vehicle body. A distance can then be measured perpendicularly to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and parallel to a floor on which the vehicle wheel is standing. The fact that the measuring stop rests exclusively at the highest point of the wheel cutout is particularly advantageous when the vehicle body becomes wider above the wheel cutout, in other words the edges of the vehicle body are bent inwards in a downward direction towards the wheel cutout. Even if the vehicle wheel is in an extreme camber position, i.e. inclined position, it may be necessary to move the measuring stop in the height direction relative to the housing in order to achieve optimal contact of the measuring stop with the side surface of the vehicle body. The handling of Depth gauge according to the invention is thereby greatly simplified when measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel. This avoids measurement errors. The distance between a side surface of a vehicle body at the wheel cutout and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel must be measured if the vehicle is to be fitted with a different wheel/rim combination than the vehicle wheel fitted. For example, a wheel spacer or wider rims and/or wider tires is to be mounted on a vehicle that is provided with a standard vehicle wheel. In order to determine which rim width, tire width and/or which wheel spacer disc can be fitted, it is necessary to measure the distance perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle and parallel to the ground between an outermost point of the standard vehicle wheel and the side surface of the vehicle body at the wheel arch. If the distance measurement results in a distance of 10 mm, for example, a wheel spacer disk with a thickness of around 5 mm could be fitted. A gap of 5 mm then remains between the outermost point of the vehicle wheel and the side surface of the body, which is usually sufficient. The depth caliper according to the invention greatly facilitates the correct and precise measurement of this distance. Although conventional depth calipers are extremely precise, they do not have a measuring stop that can be moved perpendicular to the measuring rod. In the case of conventional calipers, it is not desirable for the measuring stop to be displaceable, since this inevitably leads to a lower precision of the depth caliper.

In a further development of the invention, the measuring stop is made of plastic, at least in the area of its contact surface.

This can prevent scratches occurring in the paintwork of the bodywork when the measuring stop is applied to the side surface of the bodywork. The complete measuring stop can be made of plastic.

In a further development of the invention, the measuring stop has two slot-shaped guides in which dowel pins connected to the housing engage.

In this way, a cost-effective construction of the depth caliper can be achieved. Dowel pins are available as series parts with high accuracy. The dowel pins can then engage in two slit-shaped guides on the measuring stop, thereby ensuring on the one hand that the measuring stop can be displaced relative to the housing and on the other that the measuring stop is always held in an intended alignment with the housing and thus also with the measuring rod. In a development of the invention, the housing is provided with a test device for checking the horizontal alignment of the housing.

A correct measurement result is only obtained if the measuring rod and thus the housing are aligned horizontally. Because when installing a wheel spacer disc or a wider vehicle wheel, the outermost point of the vehicle wheel is also shifted outwards in a horizontal direction, i.e. parallel to the ground on which the vehicle wheel is standing. A test device for checking the horizontal alignment of the housing therefore ensures a correct measurement result tailored to the intended application, namely the measurement of a horizontal distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel.

In a development of the invention, the measuring stop is provided with a testing device for checking the vertical alignment of the measuring stop.

As an alternative or in addition to the housing, the measuring stop can also be provided with a testing device for checking the vertical alignment of the measuring stop. When the measuring stop is aligned vertically, the measuring rod is used to measure the horizontal distance between the side surface of the vehicle body and the outermost point of the vehicle wheel. Instead of the housing, the measuring rod can also be provided with a test device for checking the horizontal alignment of the housing. Electronic test devices, for example a modern smartphone, or mechanical test devices can be used as the test device.

In a further development of the invention, the testing device is designed as a spirit level.

The bubble level of a spirit level shows a horizontal alignment or a vertical alignment, depending on the alignment. Bubble levels are available inexpensively as off-the-shelf parts and provide an accurate indication of alignment that is quite sufficient for measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel.

In a development of the invention, a communication device is provided in order to transmit a measurement result to a computer unit.

For example, a measured distance is transferred to a computer unit and processed in the computer unit, so that the computer unit can then immediately determine possible thicknesses of wheel spacers or possible tire widths and/or rim widths.

According to the invention, there is also an arrangement with a motor vehicle and a depth gauge according to the invention, with the measuring stop of the depth gauge resting on a side surface of the vehicle body at the highest point of a wheel cutout and a free end of the measuring rod resting on a point of a vehicle wheel which is at the point of the wheel cutout on which the measuring stop rests has the smallest distance.

The free end of the measuring rod can rest either on a tire or a rim of a vehicle wheel, depending on whether a point on the tire or on the rim has the smallest distance to the wheel cutout in the horizontal direction and perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

In a further development of the invention, the measuring stop rests exclusively on the side surface of the vehicle body at the highest point of the wheel cutout.

In this way, a precise and reliable measurement can also be carried out when the bodywork protrudes inwards when viewed from below, in other words the width of the bodywork increases when viewed upwards starting from the wheel cutout.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention in connection with the drawings. In the drawings show:

1 shows a depth caliper according to the invention in a view at an angle from the front in a first state,

FIG. 2 shows the depth caliper of FIG. 1 in a second state,

Fig. 3 is a partially sectioned side view of the vernier caliper in the state of Fig.

1 from the front,

4 shows a partially sectioned side view of the vernier caliper of FIG. 1 from behind, Fig. 5 is a rear view of the vernier caliper of Fig. 1,

6 shows a view of only the measuring stop 22 of the depth measuring caliper of FIG. 1 obliquely from the front,

Fig. 7 shows a lower section of the housing 12 of the depth gauge of Fig. 1 obliquely from the front and

8 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement with the depth caliper of FIG. 1, a vehicle body and a vehicle wheel.

1 shows a vernier caliper 10 according to the invention. The vernier caliper 10 is provided for measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel. Depending on this distance to be measured, it can then be determined how thick a wheel spacer disk can be, which can be placed between the vehicle wheel and the wheel hub. Depending on this distance, it can also be determined how wide a tire or rim may be that can still be mounted on the vehicle. The determination of the distance between a side surface of a vehicle body, especially the highest point of a wheel cutout in the side surface of a vehicle body and the outermost point of a vehicle wheel is essential because, in order to comply with the legal requirements, the vehicle wheel does not extend beyond the side surface of the body the highest point of the wheel cut-out.

The depth caliper gauge 10 has a housing 12 and a measuring rod 14 which is arranged in the housing 12 in a linearly displaceable manner. The measuring rod 12 is provided with a measuring scale 16 which extends from 0 to 100 mm. The housing is provided with an oval through opening 18 through which the measuring scale 16 can be read. In the state of FIG. 1, the measuring rod 14 is set to 0 mm. A front end 20 of the measuring rod is then flush with the front of a measuring stop 22. In order to take a measurement, the measuring rod 14 is displaced in a first direction, to the left in Fig. 1, relative to the housing 12, for example until the state of Fig. 2 is reached. The displacement of the measuring rod in the first direction takes place manually in that an operator presses on the end of the measuring rod 14 on the right in FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example. Alternatively, in a way that is not shown, the underside of the measuring rod can be provided with teeth and a gear can be provided on the housing 12 which engages in the teeth on the measuring rod. The operator can then turn the gear wheel with his thumb, for example, and thereby move the measuring rod. In the state of FIG. 2, the front end 20 has been pushed out over a bearing surface 24 of the measuring stop 22. FIG. It can be read through the opening 18 in the housing 12 that the front end 20 of the measuring rod 14 now projects 25 mm beyond the bearing surface 24 of the measuring stop 22 .

Immediately behind its front end 20 and also in front of the rear end of the measuring rod 14 a dowel pin 26 protrudes beyond the top of the measuring rod 14 . These two dowel pins 26 define end stops, so that the measuring rod 14 is captively accommodated in the housing 12 .

Measuring stop 22 is guided by means of two slot-like guides 28, only one of which can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, on dowel pins 30 of housing 12, of which only two can also be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The alignment pins 30 protrude beyond the front of the housing 12 on the front of the housing facing the viewer in FIG. 1 . The dowel pins 30 engage in the slot-like guide 28 on the measuring stop 22 that can be seen in FIG. 1 .

Two dowel pins 30 are also arranged on the rear of the housing, which is not visible in FIG. The measuring stop 22 can thereby be displaced relative to the housing 12, namely in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction in which the measuring rod 14 can be displaced relative to the housing 12. Such a displaceability of the measuring stop 22 inevitably reduces the precision of the depth gauge 10. However, such a displaceability of the measuring stop 22 is extremely advantageous for measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel. Because there are vehicle bodies that widen upwards when viewed from the highest point of the wheel cutout, in other words that are bent inwards from the top downwards. With such vehicle bodies, a precise measurement using a conventional depth caliper is not possible.

The measuring stop 22 has a U-like cross-sectional shape with two legs and a base connecting the legs. One of the slot-like guides 28 is arranged in each of the two legs. A slit-shaped opening 32 is arranged in the base, which runs parallel to the slit-like guides 28 and through which the measuring rod 14 can extend, see Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. 2, in which the measuring rod 14 has been pushed a little way through the slit-shaped opening 32, the measuring stop 22 can still be moved in the vertical direction, i.e. upwards or downwards in FIG. 2, relative to the housing 12.

In order to ensure correct measurement of the horizontal distance between the side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel, the measuring rod 14 must be aligned horizontally. This is because when a wheel spacer disk is provided between a wheel hub and a vehicle wheel, an outside of the vehicle wheel is moved outward in the horizontal direction. Even when mounting a vehicle wheel that is wider than a standard wheel with a wider tire and/or a wider rim, the outside of the wider vehicle wheel then lies further out in the horizontal direction than the outside of the standard wheel. Therefore, in order to determine how thick a spacer disk can be or what wheel width can still be mounted on a vehicle, the distance between a side surface of a vehicle body, especially the highest point of a wheel cutout in the side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel in the horizontal direction be measured.

In order to ensure a horizontal alignment of the measuring rod 14 during the measurement, the housing 12 is provided with a spirit level 34 of a spirit level. For the sake of clarity, the cavity of the bubble level 34, in which a liquid can move, is not shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The spirit level 34 is placed on an upper side of the housing 12 and is arranged parallel to the measuring rod 14 . A horizontal alignment of the housing 12 can thus be determined with the spirit level, in which the first direction in which the measuring rod 14 can be displaced relative to the housing 12 is then also aligned horizontally.

Alternatively or additionally, the measuring stop 22 can also be provided with a spirit level. As a result, the vertical alignment of the measuring stop 22 can then be checked. If the measuring stop 22 is aligned vertically, the measuring rod 14 can also only be moved in the horizontal direction.

As an alternative to a spirit level 34, an electronic test device can also be provided, with which a horizontal alignment can be determined.

The measuring stop 22 is made of plastic at least on its bearing surface 24 . The support surface 24 can thus be safely applied to a side surface of a body, without fear that the measuring stop 22, the side surface of Vehicle body scratched. The complete measuring stop 22 is advantageously made of plastic.

The measuring rod 14 is also advantageously made of plastic. A self-lubricating plastic can be selected, which can be moved easily in the housing 12 but without any noticeable play.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the depth caliper 10 in the state of FIG. 1 from the front. The side view in FIG. 3 is partially sectioned and it can be seen how the measuring rod 14 is guided in the housing 12 . The top of the measuring rod 14 rests against a guide plate in the housing 12 . An underside of the measuring rod 14 is prestressed against the guide plate by means of springs.

FIG. 4 shows a partially sectioned side view of the depth caliper 10 of FIG. 1 from the rear. In this view, the sectional plane runs through the level 34. The level 34 is fastened to the housing 12 by means of screws. If necessary, it can be provided that an alignment of the bubble level 34 relative to the housing and thus relative to the measuring rod 14 can be adjusted by means of the two screws.

In the view of FIG. 4 a locking screw 36 can be seen. Measuring stop 22 can be fixed relative to housing 12 with this locking screw.

Fig. 5 shows a rear view of the depth caliper 10. The locking screw 36 can be seen.

FIG. 6 shows a view of the measuring stop 22 alone, obliquely from the front. In addition to the slit-like opening 32 in the base 24 of the measuring stop 22, the two slit-like guides 28 in the two legs lying opposite one another can also be seen, at least in sections. The measurement stop 22 is consequently constructed in a U-shape, with a slot-shaped opening extending in the longitudinal direction being provided in both the base and the two legs.

7 shows the lower section of the housing 12. The lower section of the housing 12 is also constructed in a U-shape with a base and two opposite legs. The passage opening 18 with a center marking 40 can be seen for reading the measuring scale 16 on the measuring rod 14, see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The measuring rod 14 is in the assembled state of the depth caliper recorded between the two legs of the housing 12 and relative to the housing 12 slidable.

Fig. 8 shows an arrangement according to the invention with a depth gauge 10 according to the invention, a vehicle body 50 shown in sections and a vehicle wheel 52 also only shown in sections essentially only in the region of its upper end and ideally only in points or lines on the side surface of the body 50. The depth measuring slide 10 can be easily aligned with the spirit level 34 in such a way that the measuring rod 14 is aligned exactly horizontally and the measuring stop 22 exactly vertically. The operator then has to ensure that the measuring rod 14 is also aligned perpendicularly to a central longitudinal axis of the vehicle body 50 (not shown in FIG. 8). However, this is possible without any problems and, in the event of deviations, only leads to an extremely small measurement error.

The front end of the measuring rod 14 shown on the left in Fig. 8 now touches an outermost point of the vehicle wheel 52. This outermost point is arranged in the vehicle wheel 52 shown in the area of a tire, for example on a tire bead, which extends outwards in the direction from the central longitudinal axis a rim survives.

In the arrangement shown, a distance of 28 mm between the outermost point of the vehicle wheel 52 and the side surface of the body 50 is measured with the depth gauge 10 at the wheel cutout.

So a wheel spacer disc with a thickness of about 18 mm could be mounted. The outermost point of the vehicle wheel 52 would then only have a distance of 10 mm to the side surface of the body 50 in the area of the wheel cutout. Such a distance is usually sufficient, also to allow the vehicle wheel 52 to deflect without hitting an edge of the wheel cutout. Depending on the type of vehicle and the design of the vehicle body 50 in the area of the wheel cutout, a smaller distance from the side surface of the vehicle body can also be chosen.

8 clearly shows that with the depth gauge according to the invention, the displaceability of the measuring stop 22 relative to the housing 12 makes it possible to contact the side surface of the vehicle body 50 exclusively at the transition to the wheel cutout. In the illustrated form of the vehicle body 50, this is necessary to a deliver exact measurement results. This is because the vehicle body 50 becomes wider in a bottom-up direction when viewed from the wheel cutout. In the opposite direction, the vehicle body 50 jumps in from above toward the wheel cutout. With vehicle bodies designed in this way, it is extremely advantageous for the measuring stop 22 to be displaceable relative to the housing 12 in order to enable problem-free and precise measurement. The advantages of the displaceability of the measuring stop 22 relative to the housing 12 outweigh the disadvantages associated with the displaceability of the measuring stop 22, namely the inevitably reduced measuring accuracy of the depth measuring slide 10.

Claims

Depth gauge for measuring a distance between a side surface of a vehicle body and an outermost point of a vehicle wheel, with a housing, a linearly displaceable guided in the housing and movable in and counter to a first direction relative to the housing measuring rod and a measuring stop connected to the housing, characterized characterized in that the measuring stop is guided on the housing in a linearly displaceable manner and in that the measuring stop is arranged on the housing so that it can be displaced in and against a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. Depth caliper gauge according to Claim 1, characterized in that the measuring stop is made of plastic at least in the region of its contact surface. Depth caliper gauge according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the measuring stop has two slot-shaped guides in which dowel pins connected to the housing engage. Depth caliper according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing is provided with a test device for checking the horizontal alignment of the housing. Depth caliper gauge according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measuring stop is provided with a testing device for checking the vertical alignment of the measuring stop. Depth caliper gauge according to Claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the testing device is designed as a spirit level. Depth caliper according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a communication device is provided in order to transmit a measurement result to a computer unit. Arrangement with a motor vehicle and a depth gauge according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the measuring stop of the depth gauge rests at the highest point of a wheel cutout on a side surface of the vehicle body and a free end of the measuring rod rests on a point of a vehicle wheel which is at the point of the wheel cutout, on which the measuring stop rests, has the smallest distance. Arrangement according to Claim 8, characterized in that the measuring stop bears against the side surface of the vehicle body only at the highest point of the wheel cutout.